Review: The Kraken King by Meljean Brook

The Kraken KingPublished byPenguin on November 4, 2014 Genres:SteampunkFormat: eARC

A former smuggler and thief, Ariq—better known as the Kraken King—doesn’t know what to make of the clever, mysterious woman he rescues from an airship besieged by marauders. Unsure if she’s a spy or a pawn in someone else’s game, Ariq isn’t about to let her out of his sight until he finds out…

After escaping her fourth kidnapping attempt in a year, Zenobia Fox has learned to vigilantly guard her identity. While her brother Archimedes is notorious for his exploits, Zenobia has had no adventures to call her own—besides the stories she writes.

But when she jumps at the chance to escape to the wilds of Australia and acquire research for her next story, Zenobia quickly discovers that the voyage will be far more adventurous than any fiction she could put to paper…

The Kraken King takes you on a enchanting adventure filled with mystery, action, and romance. Meljean Brook weaves a story so unique that there are no comparisons in the industry. She goes beyond the typical steampunk genre giving the reader a refreshing escapade that is sure to be a favorite. Top notch world building and character development make this book difficult to put down. I’m glad I read the book all at once opposed to as a serial because I think I would have gone crazy waiting to see what happened next.

I couldn’t help but love Zenobia. She is such a realistic character that it is easy to be drawn to her. She is compassionate and sensible but her experiences before and the way she reacts to obstacles along the way break your heart a bit. Like when she says, “Does it show?” You’ll know what I mean when you get to this part in the book.

Ariq is everything you could want in a man. He is bold and straightforward. He is strong and brave. He knows how to use words when necessary and takes action when it is needed. He fights for Zenobia and along the way, we root for him. I wanted him to succeed in winning her heart. I wanted him to follow through on his promises, and I wanted to watch Zenobia fall madly and deeply in love. I wanted her to feel safe and secure and cherished and Ariq gives her that.

I couldn’t ask for a better beginning, or a better ending, to The Kraken King. I cannot wait to see what Meljean Brook has in store for us as we continue to explore the Iron Seas.

Meljean was raised in the middle of the woods, and hid under her blankets at night with fairy tales, comic books, and romances. She left the forest and went on a misguided tour through the world of accounting before focusing on her first loves, reading and writing–and she realized that monsters, superheroes, and happily-ever-afters are easily found between the covers, as well as under them, so she set out to make her own.

Meljean lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and daughter.

Born: Dallas, Oregon
School: B.A. in English, Portland State University